<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
The Surah has been so named after the word <em>al- Qiyamah</em> in the first
verse. This is not only the name but also the title of this Surah, for
it is devoted to Resurrection itself.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
Although there is no tradition to indicate its period of revelation,
yet there is in the subject matter of this Surah an internal evidence,
which shows that it is one of the earliest Surahs to be sent down at
Makkah. After verse 15 the discourse is suddenly interrupted and the
Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) told: "Do not move your tongue to
remember this Revelation hastily. It is Our responsibility to have it
remembered and read. Therefore, when We are reciting it, listen to its
recital carefully. Again, it is Our responsibility to explain its
meaning." Then, from verse 2O onward the same theme which was
interrupted at verse 15, is resumed. This parenthetical passage,
according to both the context and the traditions, has been interposed
here for the reason that when the Angel Gabriel was reciting this Surah
to the Holy Prophet, the Holy Prophet, lest he should forget its words
later, was repeating them at the same moment. This in fact happened at
the time when the coming down and receipt of Revelation was yet a new
experience for him and he was not yet fully used to receiving it
calmly. There are two other instances also of this in the Qur'an.
First, in Surah Ta Ha the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been
told: "And see that you do not hasten to recite the Qur'an before its
revelation is completed to you." (v. 114). Then, in Surah Al-A'la, it
has been said: "We shall enable you to recite:, then you shall never
forget. (v. 6). Later, when the Holy Prophet became fully used to
receiving the Revelation well, there remained no need to give him any
such instruction. That is why except for these, three, there is no
other instance of this in the Qur'an.
</p>
<h2>Theme and Subject Matter</h2>
<p>
Most of the Surahs, from here till the end of the Qur'an, in view of
their content and style, seem to have been sent down in the period
when after the first seven verses of Surah Al-Muddaththir, revelation
of the Qur'an began like a shower of rain:Thus, in the successively
revealed Surahs Islam and its fundamental concepts and moral teachings
were presented so forcefully and effectively in pithy, brief sentences
and the people of Makkah warned so vehemently on their errors and
deviations that the Quraish chiefs were utterly confounded. Therefore,
before the next Hajj season came they held the conference for devising
schemes to defeat the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) as has been
mentioned in the Introduction to the Surah Al-Muddaththir above. 
</p>
<p>
In this
Surah, addressing thee deniers of the Hereafter, replies have been
given to each of their doubts and objections, strong arguments have
been given to prove the possibility, occurrence and necessity of the
Resurrection and Hereafter, and also it has been pointed out clearly
that the actual reason of the people's denying the Hereafter is not
that they regard it as impossible rationally but because their selfish
motives do not allow them to affirm it. At the same time, the people
have been warned, as if to say: "The event, the occurrence of which
you deny, will inevitably come: all your deeds will be brought and
placed before you. As a matter of fact, even before any of you sees
his record, he will be knowing fully well what he has done in the
world, for no man is unaware of himself, no matter what excuses and
pretenses he may offer to deceive the world and deceive himself in
respect of his misdeeds."
</p>

